Anonymous complaint about LaToya Cantrell credit card use sent to state AG's office

Anonymous complaint about LaToya Cantrell credit card use sent to state AG's office

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Updated: 9:14 PM CDT Oct 26, 2017

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WEBVTT IS LIVE AT SIX:00 WITH NEW DETAILS JUSTUNCOVERED.TRAVERS: IT WA FILED TO THEORLEANS PARISH DISTRICT ATTORNEOFFICE.BECAUSE THEY ARE BACKINGCANTRELL'S OPPONENT DESIREECHARDONNAY, THE COMPLAINT WASFORWARDED AND N TONIGHT, WDSUINVESTIGATES HAVE UNCOVERED EVENMORE QUESTIONABLE SPENDING BYLATOYA CANTRELL.SHE HAS REPRESENTED DISTRICT BEON THE CITY COUNCIL SINCE 2012,AND HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN THECOMMUNITY.THIS RECEIPT SHOWS THAT LASTNOVEMBER, I STAFF ARE USED THECITY CREDIT CARD TO PAY FOR MORETHAN 100 TURKEYS FROM WALMART,THE GRAND TOTAL MORE THAN $800.OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS WHOPARTICIPATED IN THIS TURKEYGIVEAWAY DURING THANKSGIVINGTELL WDSU NEWS THAT FOR THEEVENT, THEY USED THEIR CAMPAIGNWAR CHEST TO BUY TURKEYS FOR THENEEDY.BUT HER AND HER OFFICE DID NOT.THEY USED A CITY CREDIT CARD,TAXPAYER MONEY, WHICH IS ILL --WHICH HAS STILL NOT BEENREIMBURSED.A SPOKESPERSON TOLD WDSUINVESTIGATES THAT "THECOUNCILWOMAN THOUGHT IT WAS AGOOD USE OF CITY FUNDS TO PAYFOR TURKEYS FOR THE POOR ANDELDERLY FOR THANKSGIVING." UNDERCITY LAW, ONLY WORK RELATEDITEMS CAN BE PURCHASED USINGCITY FUNDS.THAT'S NOT THE ONLY NEW RECEIPTTHAT LOOKS TO BE PERSONAL ORCAMPAIGN RELATED WHERE SHE USEDA CITY ISSUED CREDIT CARD.IN 2015, HER OFFICE USED THECREDIT CARD TO BUY ALMOST 100T-SHIRTS AND ON THE INVOICE ITSAYS "CAMPAIGN T-SHIRTS OR CALLCITY LAW FOR BIDS ELECTEDOFFICIALS TO USE THEM ORCAMPAIGN MATTERS.A SPOKESPERSON SAYS DESPITE THENOTES ON THE DOCUMENT, THE EVENTWAS NOT CAMPAIGN RELATED AND WASA BIKING EVENT IN HER DISTRICT,THEREFORE USING THE MONEY WASNECESSARY.THIS COMES AS PUBLIC RECORDSSHOW THAT SHE REPAID ALMOST$9,000 TO THE CITY AFTER USING ACITY HALL CREDIT CARD FOR WHATAPPEARS TO BE PERSONAL ORCAMPAIGN RELATED EXPENSES.ONE OF THOSE PAYMENTS CAME JUST

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Anonymous complaint about LaToya Cantrell credit card use sent to state AG's office

After documents revealed LaToya Cantrell used a city credit card for personal expenses, the mayoral candidate now faces an apparent anonymous complaint.

WDSU investigative reporter Travers Mackel confirmed that the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office received an anonymous complaint about the credit card use, which was sent to Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry's office.

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"The D.A. has publicly endorsed another candidate. While we find no reason to recuse this office, the heightened political season and the desire to avoid even the appearance of impropriety compels the District Attorney's Office to request the assistance of the Louisiana Attorney General's Office in handling this matter," said Graymond F. Martin, first assistant district attorney.

Thursday's complaint comes after documents revealed that Cantrell, the current District B councilwoman, used the credit card to pay for nearly $9,000 worth of personal or campaign related expenses. Cantrell paid the money back, but in some cases the payments were made months, even years, after the purchases.

Mackel reported that some of the expenses were for flights and Uber.

According to city guidelines, all credit card expenses should be business or work-related. If that's the case, expenses do not need to be repaid to the city.

Mackel reported that Cantrell made several reimbursements over the years. Since her election to the City Council, records show that she has repaid the city more than $9,000 for purchases that she has made on the city-issued credit card.

A large portion of the money, $4,400, came in a lump sum payment in July, days before Cantrell qualified to run for mayor, Mackel reported. Some of the reimbursements in the payment were for purchases years ago, some dating back to 2013.

In a statement Thursday, Cantrell's mayoral campaign said mayoral candidate Desiree Charbonnet is using the report as a negative attack because she "lacks substance and is failing to resonate with voters."

Charbonnet's campaign said the credit card use should be a concern about how Cantrell manages taxpayer money as a city leader.

Here's the full statement from Cantrell:

"It’s no surprise the Charbonnet campaign has resorted to this kind of negative attack because my opponent hasn’t shown the results or the vision I have delivered for our City. In five years on Council, I have discussed, debated and participated in the approval of five city budgets totaling billions of dollars and proposed and passed laws making our city a safer and better place, acting always with unquestioned integrity.

"I’m running for Mayor with credible plans to tackle New Orleans’ most pressing issues, like infrastructure/drainage, criminal justice reform and youth and families.

"By contrast, the Charbonnet campaign lacks substance and is failing to resonate with voters, so now Desiree is throwing wild punches. I’m proud of my impeccable reputation as a fighter for New Orleans and I’ll keep working every day to earn the support of voters with proven experience and real solutions."